(Traveled 08/29/24 TH @ 2:05pm and several times before and after): I'll ask ya... how was the flight!?
Alaska Airlines recently became one of my favorite airlines, and by default my airline of choice to/from Honolulu, Hawaii to visit while I checked on the property my family recently acquired and a few new clients I picked up along the way. Additionally, they've also become my airline of choice to/from Newark, New Jersey. Although my favorite domestic carrier Southwest Airlines flew to Hawaii, their fares always seemed to be a tad higher and oftentimes didn't have direct flights. Plus, I was able to get mileage points! This was my story:
PURCHASE
One-Way Coach Cabin Super Saver Airfare ($148.20): Since I booked the flight roughly three months before its departure, this fare was within my comfort level of $150.00 for any one-way domestic air travel during the high season (summer months). On an afternoon flight out of Honolulu HNL that arrived in Los Angeles LAX https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=KmZs01gm6Lhobxj3ei_CbA around 9:45pm the same day, the one-way flight departed and nearly arrived on-time.
Checked Luggage (N/A): Thankfully, I traveled light and only had a carry-on and backpack. Otherwise, they customarily charged $30.00/bag. With the exception of Southwest Airlines or you were a high-ranking passenger, basically all carriers charged for checked luggage. C'est la vie...
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
~Check-in: I checked-in online 24-hours prior, had my QR code boarding pass on their app, and traveled with only a carry-on and backpack, so I was ready to go! Then, it was off to the security checkpoints and through the necessary TSA Pre-Check pleasantries (thankfully, all the passengers knew what they needed to do). Once that was done, I was released to my plane's gate and left to my own devices with the sadness that always came when having to return home to reality - bummer!
~Seats: Come on, it was the same sardine can like all airplanes these days, so unless you were in Business or First Class you got to know your neighbors to the left, right, front, and back of you!
~In-flight Meals/Snacks (Varied; only snacks this instance): The drink cart along with a small packaged snack https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=5xNtgrUalPa_sGREd-lc6A came out once we were at coasting altitude. Alcohol and some kind of food were made available for purchase. I normally didn't purchase such things on a flight. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=euZWS7R8AReVqC1aNuaOHA
~Lavatory: I got my business done at the one in the back of the plane. Plenty of toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues... but could've been cleaned more often.
~Service & Amenities: All uniformly-dressed flight attendants were adequate and spoke perfect English. None of the seats had video monitors for movie/show watching, music listening, and games playing. The seats themselves were roomy enough. No blankets, headphones, or pillows were provided. Because of the afternoon flight time, the attendants didn't come around as often which was fine in this case. There were no carry-on baggage fees.
PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance)
I was traveling through and had no need to park. However, the airport offered onsite parking structures with rates that varied from FREE (less than 15 minutes) to $25.00/daily maximum. Because this was located within Terminal 2 of departing flights, you had to already be an outgoing or incoming passenger to even get here, so parking would be a moot point.
ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE
Located deep into Terminal 2 (specifically near Gates E4-E10) filled with several gates, plenty of reasonably-priced eateries and duty-free shops, and a handful of monitors as you passed them along the way. There were sufficient places to sit in the terminal with plenty of natural and electric lighting. Once on the airplane, it seemed like any other, so nothing really needed to be said or seen here, but I wished I recalled the type of plane since I was nerdy like that! https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=_vCaZ6Yb83pmvgQXQgX8AQ
ATTIRE
Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. I liked to be unencumbered and unfettered, so the least amount of clothing, especially while I traveled through an airport, the better!
OVERALL
My one-way flight on Alaska Airlines out of HNL was fine and got me home safely which truthfully was all that mattered to me on any domestic flights. I wished there were seat video monitors that helped pass the time. In any case, I'd fly and recommend them again. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $148.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! 4.0 STARS read more